Power shovel



March 26, 1935. w, w, sLoANE POWER SHOVEL Original Filed N'ov. l1, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l N LT 1, t K. La r O W o m QN mw WN RN March 26, 1935. w. SLOANE 1,995,824

l l vPOWER sHoVEL l original Filed Nov; 11, 1929 4 sheets-sheet' 2 @JL #ff-0107@ March 26, 1935. w w. sLoAN POWER SHOVEL Original Filed Nov. ll, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet `3 Nw@ N W. W. SLOANE March ze, 1935.

POWER SHOVEL original Filed Nov. 11, 1929 '4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Mar. 26, 1935 PATENT OFFICE POWER SHOVEL William W. Sloane, chicago, In., assignor to Goodman` Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois yOriginal application November 11, 1929, Serial, l No. 406,191.v Divided and this applicationSeptember 2, 1932, Serial No. 631,591 f 10' Claims. (C1. 303-.-6)

This invention relates Vto improvements in operating `and control mechanisms for hydraulic systems' and more particularly for `hydraulic power shovels of the type adapted foruse in conned spaces, such as in mines, although notlimited to this use alone.

This invention has a general object to provide a new and improved type of hydraulic controlling mechanism forv power shovels or other hy- 1'0 draulicmechanisms arranged with a `View toward ease and convenience ofmanipulation and control, simplicity, and general efciency.

This application is a division of my co-pending application for Letters Patent of the United 15- States for Improvements in power shovels, Serial Number 405,191, iiled November 11, 1929, which issued as Patent No. 1,930,694 on October 17, 1933.

Other more specific objects of my invention will appear from time to time as my specification proceeds. y' Y i v My `invention may be more clearly understood .with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Y

Figure 1 is a top plan View of ,a hydraulic pow- 25 er shovel embodying onel form of my invention with parts broken away and in section; Y

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the uid pressure system for the device shown in Figure 1 showing the fluid pressure connections and one application of the device embodying my invention; l

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail top plan view 'of the hydraulic controlling mechanism embodying my invention;

Figure 4 isa partial diagrammatic fragmentary side elevation of the hydraulic controlling mechanism illustrated inFigure 3 with parts broken away and in section;

Figure 5 isa sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of Figure 3 showing the ydetails of one of the valves of the hydraulic controlling mechanism illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a partial detail sectional view simi- 45 lar to Figure 5 with the valve in a different position than is shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a partial diagrammatic sectional side elevation of the hydraulic controlmechanism shown in Figure 3 showing different parts 50 broken away and in section than are shown in Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a sectionallview taken substan- 'tially along line 8 8 of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a partial diagrammatic side eleva- 55A tion of the hydraulic control mechanism shown in Figure 3 with parts broken away and in section. i

Like. numerals refer to like parts throughout the various gures.

Referring now to the drawings and Figures 1 5 and 2 in particular, the embodiment of my invention illustrated is particularly adapted for use on a power shovel 10 of the hydraulic type adapted to be used in confined spaces, such as mines, which is fully described in detail in my 10` parent application hereinbeiore referred to so will only herein be described insofar as is necessary to illustrate my present invention.

The power shovel 10 includes a scoop 11 carried on the forward end of a beam 12, which beam is in turn supported on a suitable turntable (not shown)l supported on a portable base 13V for thrusting and angular ,movement with respect thereto in a manner fully described in my copending v parent application.

The beam 12 and scoop 11 are so arranged that l material is usually discharged therefrom into a mine car or other suitable receptacle when in an elevated position. Suitable means are provided for discharging material from said scoop, which means as herein shown comprises an ejector 14 adapted to slide forwardly along said scoop to discharge material therefrom in a usual manner Well known to those skilled in the art.

' lDuring the loading operation suitable means 30 are provided for holding the power shovel in a stationary position, which means herein comprises a holding jack 15 adapted to be engaged with the mine roof by means of hydraulic pressure in a manner fully explained in my aforementioned parent application. V l

Suitable means are provided for moving the beam 12 and scoop 11 forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the portable base 13, which means are herein shown as comprising cylinders 17 having plungers 18 associated therewith and a cylinder 20 having a plunger 21 associated therewith.

The cylinders 17 and plungers 18 are connected with the beam l2 in such a manner as to move the scoop lland beam 12 outwardly with respect to the portable base 13 and will hereinafter be referred to as out-cylinders. The'connections from the out-cylinders 17 and plungers 18 to the beam 50 12 are not herein shown or described since they are no portion of my present invention and are clearly described in my aforementioned parent application,

The cylinder 20 and plunger 21 are connected 55 with the beam 12 in such a manner as to move said beam inwardly with respect to the portable base 13 upon the application of iiuid pressure to said cylinder in a manner which has been fully described in my aforementioned parent application. The cylinder 20 will hereinafter be referred to as the in-cylinder.

Another cylinder 23, having a suitable piston movable therein, is provided for angularly moving the beam 12 and scoop 11 in a vertical plane upon the application of fluid pressure therein in a manner which has been clearly described in my parent application.

The ejector` 14 is operated by a fluid pressure cylinder 24, having a plunger 25 therein, through a suitable system of ropes and pulleys in a manner which has been fully described in my aforementioned parent application.

It may thus be seen that the beam 12 is lifted and moved inwardly and outwardly with respect to the portable base 13, that the machine is held in a stationary position during the loading operation, and that the operation of the ejector 14 is eifected through fluid pressure.

Referring now in particular to the uid pressure system for effecting the operation of the beam 12 and scoop 11 and several of the novel features of my invention, a suitable fluid pressure pump 26 is provided. Said uid pressure pump is driven by a suitable electric motor, herein designated by reference character 27, through suitable reduction gear mechanism generally indicated by reference character 28 in an ordinary manner. Said fluid pressure pump is directly connected to a storage tank 29 by means of a suitable pipe 30. A high pressure line 31 leads from said fluid pressure pump into a suitable hydraulic controlling mechanism, herein being shown as a gang of valves arranged longitudinally of the power shovel on one side thereof and generally indicated by reference character 33.

The gang valves 33 are so arranged that said valves may be operated in a certain predetermined sequence in a simplified manner and so said valves may be conned to a limited space to keep the size of the power shovel tocertain minimum requirements and are constructed as follows (see Figs. 2 to 9, ind):`

A longitudinally extending vertically disposed manifold 34 is secured on the portable base 13, and secured on the vertical outer face of said manifold are a plurality of poppet valves. These poppet valves include a throttle valve 35V on the forward end of the manifold 34, a dual vertical cylinder control valve 36 on the outer longitudinal face of the manifold 34, and nine vertically disposed poppet valves 37, 38, 39. 40, 41, 42,v 43, 44, and 45, respectively. These valves are similar in construction, each comprising a stem 47 and a piston 48 integral therewith spaced vertically upwardly from a head 49 of the valve, which head is adapted to engage a seat in a usual manner. These valves have a by-pass 50 in the body of the valve communicating the upper side of the head with the lower side of the piston to balance the pressure on the upper side ot the valve head. A spring 5,1 is provided to move the valve head into closed position upon release of pressure on the valve stem.

The valve 36v is similar to the valves 37 to 45, inclusive, and hasI an auxiliary valve, 52 integral therewith, which valve serves as an auxiliary check valve to prevent chattering of the vertical cylinder 23 as the beam 12 is being raised or lowered. The valves 35 to 45, inclusive, are operated by suitable hand levers, such as is partially illustrated at 53. A hand lever, such as is partially illustrated at 53, is adapted to be inserted in suitable lever sockets 54, 55, and 56 for operating the above mentioned valves.

The lever sockets 54, 55, and 56 are pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft 57 and have operable connection with valve operating bars 58, 59, and 60, respectively, for moving said bars longitudinally of the manifold 34. The lever socket 54 has a tooth 61 projecting downwardly below the shaft 57, which tooth has engagement with a notch 62 formed in the valve operating bar 58 for reciprocably moving said valve operating bar on pivotal movement of said tooth. Similarly, a tooth 63 depends from the lever socket 55 and has engagement with a notch 64 formed in the valve operating bar 59, and a tooth 65 depends from the lever socket 56 and has engagement with a notch 66 formed in the valve operating bar 60. 'I'hus reciprocable pivotal movement o! any one of the lever sockets 54, 55, or 56 and the respective tooth 61, 63, or 65 causes reciprocable longitudinal movement of the respective valve operating bar 58, 59, or in an obvious manner.

The top portion of the valve operating bar 58 (see Fig. 7) has a plurality of cams, indicated at 67, formed thereon which are adapted to engage rollers 68 on rocker arms 69, the opposite ends of which rocker arms are adapted to engage the valve stems 47 of the valves 38, 39, 40, and 41, respectively, for operating said valves on longitudinal movement of the valve operating bar 58.

Similarly, the valve operating bar 59 (see Fig. 4) has a cam 70 thereon which engages rollers 7l on rocker arms 72 for operating the valves 36 and 37.

Figure 9 shows cams, generally indicated at 73, on the valve operating bar 60 for operating the valves 42, 43, 44, and 45 through rocker arms 74 and rollers 75 which ride on said cams.

A rocker arm 76 disposed on a transverse axis is provided to operate the throttle valve 35. The rocker arm 76 has a relatively wide roller 77 thereon which is engageable with a depression 78, such as is shown in Figure 7, formed in each of the valve operating bars 58, 59, and 60 at the forward end of said bars so the valve 35 may be opened or closed upon longitudinal movement of the respective valve operating bats 58, 59, and 60, and so said valve may be permitted to be open when the fluid pressure parts of the power shovel 10 are not in operation to by-pass fluid into the storage tank 29.

Referring` particularly to Figure 2', fluid is circulated by the pump 26 through the high pressure pipe 31 which connects with a passageway 80 of the manifold 34 which in turn communicates with the valves 35, 36, 38, 40, 42, and 44. These valves are normally closed and the valve 35 is normally open so under idling conditions with the pump 26 operating, the fluid passes from mid pump through the valve 35 intoy a passageway 81 in the manifold 34 and from thence into a return pipe 82 leading into the storage tank 29.

It will be observed that the valve 35 by-passes the fluid pressure from the pump 26 and is accordingly termed the by-pass or throttle valve, and the valves 36, 38, 40, 42, and 44 serve for selectively applying the pressure from the pump 26 to the hydraulic actuating devices and are accordingly hereinafter termed pressure valves. The valves 37, 39, 41, 43, and 45 communicate i Cn with the passageway'81 and serve for selectively releasing fluid under pressure from the hydraulic devices and are accordingly hereinafter termed release valves.

A high pressure pipe 79 leads from the manifold 34 and valve 35 to the lifting cylinder 23 through a suitable vsystem of 'sliding pipes, not herein described in detail since it is no portion of my present invention andis fully described in my parent application. i

It should here be noted that movement of the lever socket 55 about its pivotal axis in one direction moves the valve operating bar 59 forwardly towards the throttle valve 35 which closes said throttle valveand opens thepressure valve 36 to raise the piston in the vertical lifting cylinder 23. Rearward movement ofthe valve operating bar 59 allows the pressure -1 valve 36 to be closed by the `actionof the spring 51 and opens the release valve 37 and throttleV valve 35 to release fluid pressure from the vertical cylinder 23 to permit said piston to return by gravity to its initial lowered position in the vertical cylinder 23. Thus raising or lowering'of the beam 12 and scoop 11 is effected by the above mentioned valves by means of the valve operating bar 59.

A passageway 83 in the 'manifold 34 communicates with the pressure valve 38 above the head thereof and with the release valve 39 below the head thereof and a pipe 84 leads from this passageway to the head or rearward end of the ejector cylinder 24. Likewise, a passageway 85 in the manifold 34'communicates with the pressure valve 40 above the head thereof and with the release valve 4l below the head thereof, and a `pipe 86 leads from this passageway to the forward end of the ejector cylinder 24. When the valve operating bar 58 is moved rearwardly away from the throttle valve 35 by means of the tooth 61, said throttle valve `is closed, the pressure valve 38 is opened and the release valve 41 is opened to admit pressure into the rearward end of the ejector cylinder 24 and release pressure from the forward end of said ejector cylinder. Similarly, when the valve operating bar 58 is moved forwardly towards the throttle valve 35, said throttle valve is closed andthe pressure valve 40 and releasevalve 39 are opened. Thus fluid pressure is admitted into the forward end of the ejector cylinder 24 and released from the rearward end of said ejector cylinder to move the plunger 25 rearwardly in said ejector cylinder by means of movement of the valve operating bar 58 longitudinally of the manifold 34 in a manner which has hereinbefore been described.

A passageway 87 in the manifold 34 communicates with the pressure valve 42 above the head thereof and the release valve 43 below the head thereof and a pipe 88 leads from this passageway to the radial in-cylinder 20, Likewise, a passageway 89 in the manifold 34 communicates with the pressure valve 44 above the head thereof and the release valve 45 below the head thereof, and a pipe 90 leads from this passageway to the radial out-cylinders 1'7, 17. Thus when the valve operating bar 60 is moved rearwardly by means of the tooth 65 and lever 53 inserted in the lever socket 56, the pressure valve 44 is opened to apply pressure to the radial out-cylinders 1'7, the throttle valve 35 is closed and the release valve 44 is opened to release pressure from the in-cylinder 20. Similarly, when. the valve operating bar 60 is moved forwardly, the throttle valve 35 is closed, the pressure valve 42 is opened to apply pressure to the radial in-cylinder 20, l,and the release valve 45 is opened to release pressure from the radial out-cylinders 17.

Suitable meansare provided to admit or release uid pressure to the holding jack cylinder 15 which comprises a plurality of manually operated poppet valves, generally indicated by reference character 91, which valves are separate and distinct from the manifold 34. The poppet valves 91 are so arranged as to act as pressure and release valves and to hold pressure in the jack cylinder l5` when desired in a manner which has been fully described in my aforementioned parent application and are connected to the high pressure line 31 by means of a pipe 92 connected to the passageway 80 in the manifold 34. In order to eifect pressure in the jack` cylinder 15 it is necessary to close the throttle valve 35 by operation of any, of the valves in the manifold 34 and effecting pressure on any of the parts of the shovel itself; as, for instance, applying pressure to either of the cylinders 17 or 20 for moving the scoop inwardly or outwardly with respect to the base 13 or applying pressure to the vertical cylinder 23. p

A safety valve, generally indicated by reference character 93 is provided in the system and is connected across the passageways 80 and 81 inthe manifold 34 and operates to release excessive pressure developed by the pump 26. -The safety Valve 93 is of an ordinary construction and is `no portion of my present invention so is only herein shown diagrammatically in Figure 2.

An automatic check valve 95 is provided between each of the pressure valves 36, 38, 40, 42, and 44 and the respective hydraulic actuating devices, and said check valvesv are arranged to open uponthe application of uid pressure from the pump 26 and to close upon the application of pressure from the opposite direction to prevent pressure developed Vin the several hydraulic de- Vices from passing into the passageway 80 when the pressure in said passageway drops. AThese valves are of an ordinary construction and are disposed in the manifold 34 as is clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6.

It will be observed that a lever connected to the lever socket 56 controls the longitudinal movement of the beam 12, that a lever connected to the lever socket 55 controls vertical movement Vof said beam, and that'a lever connected to the lever socket 54 controls movement of the ejector 14, and that the valves for controlling these movements are operated in the'desired sequence by the sliding bars 53, 59, and `60, respectively. It should also be noted that the arrangement of the manifold 34 and operatingfmechanisms for the valves is such that any number of valves may be operated in any sequence desired in a simplified manner. Thus the construction and arrangement of the platform valves, and the control mechanism therefor, provides a simple and effective selective control arranged particularly with a view towards accessibility of the valve mechanism and simplicity and ease of manipulation.

While I have herein shown and described one form of `my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction or arrangement of parts herein shown and described excepting as specifically limited in the appended claims. -v v I claim as my invention:

1. In a control means for hydraulic actuating devices including gang valves for applying pressure to or releasing pressure from said hydraulic actuating devices comprising a plurality of consecutively arranged balanced pressure and release pOppet valves, a poppet valve for by-passing pressure from said iirst mentioned valves, and manually controllable means movable longitudinally of said gang valves for actuating respective of said poppet valves and said by-pass valve upon longitudinal movement thereof cornprising a plurality of independently operable longitudinally movable bars having a plurality of raised and depressed portions thereon, rocker arms engageable with said poppet valves for operating said poppet valves, and rider means on the opposite ends of said rocker arms engageable with said depressed and raised portions on respective of said longitudinally movable bars for actuating said rocker arms upon longitudinal movement of respective of said bars.

2. In a control means for hydraulic actuating devices including gang valves for applying pressure to or releasing pressure from said hydraulic actuating devices comprising a plurality of consecutively arranged balanced pressure and release poppet valves, a poppet valve for by-passing pressure from said first mentioned valves, and manually controllable means movable longitudinally of said gang valves for actuating respective of said poppet valves and said by-pass valve upon longitudinalmovement thereof comprising a plurality of independently operable longitudinally movable bars having a plurality of raised and depressed portions thereon, rocker arms engageable with said poppet valves for operating said poppet valves, and rider means on the opposite ends of said rocker arms engageable with said depressed and raised portions on respective of said longitudinally movable bars for actuating said rocker arms upon longitudinal movement of respective of said bars, said depressed and raised portions on said longitudinally movable bars being so arranged as to close said by-pass valve upon opening of any of said pressure valves and open said by-pass valve upony closing of all of said pressure valves.

3. In a control means for hydraulic actuating devices including gang valves for applying pressure to or releasing pressure from said hydraulic actuating devices comprising a plurality of consecutively arranged balanced pressure and release poppet valves, a. poppet valve at one end of said gang valves for by-passing pressure from said first mentioned valves and manually controllable means movable longitudinally of said gang valves for actuating respective of said poppet valves and said by-pass valve comprising a plurality of independently longitudinally movable bars having a plurality of raised and depressed portions thereon, rocker arms engageable with said poppet valves for operating said poppet valves, and rider means on the opposite end of said rocker arms engageable with said depressed and raised portions on respective of said longitudinally movable bars for actuating said rocker arms on longitudinal movement of respective of said bars, said depressed and raised portions on said longitudinally movable bars being so arranged as to close said by-pass valve upon opening of any of said pressure valves and open said by-pass valve upon closing of all of said pressure valves.

4. In a control means for hydraulic actuating devices including gang valves for applying pressure to cr releasing pressure from said hydraulic actuating devices comprising a plurality of consecutively arranged balanced pressure and release poppet valves, a poppet valve at one end of said gang valves for by-passing pressure from said rst mentioned valves, and manually controllable means movable longitudinally of said gang valves for actuating respective of said poppet valves and said by-pass valve comprising a plurality of independently longitudinally movable bars having a plurality of raised and depressed portions thereon, rocker arms engageable with said poppet valves for operating said poppet valves, and rider means on the opposite end o! said rocker arms engageable with said depressed and raised portions on respective of said longitudinally movable bars for actuating said rocker arms on longitudinal movement of respective of said bars, said rider means on said rocker arm for operating said by-pass valve being engageable with each of said longitudinally movable bars and said depressed and raised portions on said longitudinally movable bars being so arranged as to close said by-pass valve upon opening of any of said pressure valves, and open said by-pass valve upon closing of all of said pressure valves.

5. Control mechanism for uid pressure actuating devices comprising a manifold having pressure and exhaust passageways therein and having a plurality of poppet valves thereon communicating with said pressure and exhaust passageways, each of said valves having a valve stem and a rocker arm engageable with each of said valve stems, means for operating said valves comprising a plurality of members arranged side by side for movement longitudinally of said manifold and having operative engagement with said rocker arms and a by-pass valve operable upon movement of any one of said operating members.

6. Contol mechanism for uid pressure actuating devices comprising a plurality of consecutively arranged pressure and release poppet valves, manually controllable means slidably movable longitudinally of said pressure and release valves for actuating respective of said poppet valves upon slidable movement thereof comprising a plurality of independently operable longitudinally movable members having a. plurality of raised and depressed portions thereon, rocker arms engageable with said poppet valves for operating said poppet valves and with said depressed and raised portions on respective of said longitudinally movable members for actuating said rocker arms upon longitudinal movement of respective of said longitudinally movable members, and a common rocker arm engaged by each of said operating members and adapted to operate a by-pass valve upon movement of any one of said operating members.

7. A control for iluid pressure actuating devices comprising a manifold having pressure and exhaust passageways therein, a plurality of pressure and exhaust poppet valves arranged along said manifold, each of said valves including a valve stem having a valve head thereon, a passageway from each pressure valve on one side of said valve head leading from said pressure passageway, a passageway on the opposite side of said valve head leading to an exhaust valve and passageways from said exhaust valves leading to said exhaust passageway, a spring engaging each valve head for holding said valve head in a closed position and a rocker arm engaging each valve stem for opening each valve upon actuation thereof, means for rocking said rocker arms and operating said valves in a. predeterined sequence comprising a plurality of manually controllable members arranged side by side on said manifold Lesage/i for movement longitudinally of said manifold and having operative connection with said rocker arms, and each of said members being adapted to engage a common rocker arm for operating a by-pass valve upon movement of any one of said operating members.

3. Control mechanism for iluid pressure actuating devices comprising a manifold having pressure and exhaust passageways therein, a plurality of consecutively arranged balanced pressure and release poppet valves arranged along one side of said manifold, a poppet valve arranged adjacent one end of said manifold for by-passing fluid pressure fromV said first-mentioned valves, and manually controllable means carried by said manifold for slidable movement with respect thereto for operating said poppet valves in a predetermined sequence and opening said by-pass valve `when any one of said manually controllable means is moved in one direction and closing said by-pass valve when all of said manually controllable means are moved in an opposite direction to a predetermined position.

9. Control mechanism for fluid pressure actuating devices comprising a manifold having pressure and exhaust passageways therein, a plurality of consecutively arranged balanced pressure and release poppet valves arranged along one side of said manifold, a poppet valve arranged adjacent one end of said manifold for by-passing fluid pressure from said pressure to said exhaust passageways in said manifold, and manually controllable means carried by said manifold for slidable movement With respect thereto for operating said poppet valves in a predetermined sequence and opening said by-pass valve when any one of said manually controllable means is moved in one direction and closing said by-pass valve when all of said manually controllable means are moved in an opposite direction to a predetermined position comprising a plurality of independently operable longitudinally movable bars arranged side by side having cams on their top surfaces adapted to be engaged by rocker arms operatively connected with said valves.

10. In a device of the class described, a manifold having pressure and exhaust passageways therein, a plurality of consecutively arranged balanced pressure and release poppet valves arranged along one side of said manifold including valve stems and rocker arms arranged for pivotal movement about axes extending longitudinally of said manifold for engagement with said valve stems for opening said Valves, a poppet valve arranged adjacent one end of said manifold for by-passing pressure from the pressure to exhaust passageways in said manifold, including a valve stem and a rocker arm arranged for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of said manifold for engagement with said valve stem for opening said poppet valve, and a plurality of independently manually controllable members carried by said manifold for slidable movement with respect thereto having raised portions thereon adapted to engage said rocker arms and each of said members having engagement with said rocker arm for operating said by-pass valve.

WILLIAM W. SLOANE. 

